Headaches After A Car Accident

Unfortunately, headaches felt after an accident are very common, whether you were a driver or a passenger in the vehicle at the time of the accident. A headache could cause excruciating pain, making it almost difficult to focus. A headache is usually not of a major concern. But, if it is a headache following a car accident, we recommend that you see a medical provider right away. A headache can easily be avoided, but could also be an indication of a larger issue at hand. For example, a headache may be minor at first, but could be a sign that points to a spinal cord injury or a traumatic brain injury. That is why having an experienced car accident attorney on your side is important to make sure that you get compensated for all of your sufferings.

Around 10% of Americans have admitted to constant headaches that they have to suffer with every year.  Several different types of accidents cause headaches, including car accidents, bus accidents, truck accidents, pedestrian accidents, bicycle accidents, etc.

What causes a headache after a car accident?

Almost all accidents involve some abrupt force, sometimes even the driver’s head could collide with another object. When this occurs, you may not initially feel it. After an accident, your adrenaline levels may be at an all-time high. When this occurs, you may not feel all the pain. Headache pain could be felt hours, even days after an accident.

  • Subdural hematomas: a subdural hematoma occurs when a brain injury is caused in an accident. This refers to a buildup of blood in the brain. When an abrupt force is used towards someone’s head, several blood vessels may erupt in the brain. This may cause internal brain  bleeding, which may cause an excruciating amount of pressure in the head. This injury should be treated right away, since the longer you wait, the more permanent the injuries may be.
  • Whiplash: whiplash is one of the most common types of injuries felt in a car accident. In the medical field, it could be very difficult for a doctor to determine if a victim of an accident did suffer whiplash. Whiplash occurs when a driver’s head abruptly moves back and forth, and causes injuries to the brain, back, and spine. Whiplash injuries are not felt until days after the accident. Minor whiplash can be treated by simple over-the-counter pain relievers, and physical therapy. Major whiplash must be treated by a doctor, and there may need to be imaging done.

Traumatic brain injury: traumatic brain injuries occur when there has been some damage to the brain. A traumatic brain injury to be immediately looked at by a doctor. Brain injuries are detectable by CT scans or MRIs scans.

What are other symptoms associated with a headache?

There are other symptoms that also may be felt at the time a victim of a car accident is experiencing a headache. These symptoms include:

  • Tingling sensation down the back
  • Sharp pain in the head
  • Nausea
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Difficulty speaking

How long do headaches last after an accident?

Headaches can be felt a couple days after the accident, and around a couple months after an accident. Many medical providers suggest and recommend that if a headache continues after a couple months, to be examined by a medical provider immediately.

What are the different types of headaches after an accident?

  • Concussion headaches: a concussion headache occurs when there is a severe blow to the head. This may lead to bruising, or to severe injury done to the brain walls. Concussion headaches could be very serious, and could be associated with memory loss, difficulty speaking, and difficulty sleeping.
  • Spasm headaches: spasm headache occurs when there is a spasm or a strain in the muscle area where the pain shoots up towards the head. Another indication of a spasm headache could be a soft tissue injury.
  • Fracture headaches: a fracture headache occurs when there has been a fracture in the skull. Sometimes, the severity of the fracture headache could point to the severity of the fracture itself.
  • Pinched nerve headache: a pinched nerve headache occurs when there has been a nerve in damaged near the spinal cord. An example of a pinched nerve could include a disc herniation.
Could my back be injured?

A headache may also point to injury to other parts of the body, including the neck or upper back. In an accident, soft tissues that are located in the neck or back area may get torn. A headache could be a sign of a soft tissue tear.

Should I go to the ER for a headache after a car accident?

After an accident, our car accident attorneys highly recommend that you speak to a medical professional immediately. If you did not call 911 after an accident, we recommend that you visit a doctor’s office a day or two after the accident. Keep in mind that the longer you wait, the longer your injuries could aggravate and get worse. This is especially true for injuries that are not immediately felt. Another reason why you should see a medical provider after you start to notice a headache after an accident is when filing a lawsuit. The plaintiff has a duty to mitigate their damages, this means that they have to minimize their injuries as much as possible. One instance of mitigating damages is to get imaging done or to follow through with treatments advised by a doctor.

What does a whiplash headache feel like?

A whiplash headache occurs when there is pain at the back of the head, towards the neck area. Usually, whiplash headache pain is felt right where the temples of the head are.

Migraines After A Car Accident

A migraine is considered to be a little more severe than a headache, and is accompanied with tingling, numbness, or changes in vision. A migraine may point to a more serious injury. If you have suffered a migraine in an accident, call your doctor today.

Have you experienced a headache after an accident? Contact our attorneys today. Our car accident attorneys have decades of experience dealing with victims who have suffered headaches after an accident. We know exactly how to maneuver through the legal process and represent our clients. A headache could be an indication of something more serious, that is why we recommend you get examined by a doctor immediately after an accident. Whether it is a pedestrian accident, bicycle accident, construction accident etc, a headache is a very common injury that may result.

Do not think that your headache is simply just minor and it will go away on its own. You never know the injuries that could result from a car accident. Each person suffers in an accident in a different way. That is why we recommend that you speak to our attorneys after an accident to see how you can get compensated for your injuries. A headache may result in thousands of dollars in medical bills, for imaging and surgeries that may be required. Car accidents are known to cause severe headaches. Call our car accident attorneys today to speak to our experienced legal team and schedule a consultation.

You will not regret speaking to our car accident attorneys at Megeredchian Law. We will be on your side every step of the way. Tambien puede contactar a nuestros abogados de accidentes en español. 

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